A Planning Study on the Spatial Configuration of Bus Rapid Transit Stations-Focused on Sustainable Mobility

Abstract

Mass transit systems are pivotal for fostering sustainable transportation and tackling urban mobility challenges. However, their efficacy hinges significantly on spatial characteristics, accessibility, and integration with the built environment. This study offers a blueprint for future Bus rapid transit station designs, aiming to boost ridership and broaden catchment areas to optimize mass transit planning within their surrounding context. Achieving this entails an exploration of human travel behaviors and their interplay with the built environment. To address these challenges, space syntax was utilized as a spatial analysis tool for mass transit system of Rawalpindi, Pakistan, considering its surrounding context. The study's outcomes are based on spatial comparative analysis and gate count analysis, assessing how accessibility impacts user flow to specific stations. The findings underscore the negative linear correlation between ridership and integration, with stations demonstrating higher integration experiencing lower ridership and vice versa. This underscores the significance of spatial analysis in optimizing mass transit networks, mitigating environmental impacts, and enhancing urban livability. Planners and policymakers can leverage these insights to tailor station designs, improving accessibility and flow. Additionally, integrating other transit modes can expand catchment areas, aligning with research emphasizing integration's importance.